Fire-extinguisher.



Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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WHZHMJQQZI7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. ROWE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO A. C. ROWE & SON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A FIRM COMPOSED OF ARTHUR C. ROWE AND KENNETH I. ROWE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19,1913.

i To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. Rown, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city, county, and St'ate of New York, (whose post-oflice address is No. 280 Broadway, New York, N. Y.,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire- Extinguishers, which invention is fully set forth inthe following specification.

My invention relates to chemical fire-extinguishers of the well-known type thatis inverted when brought into use, to bring the chemicals together.

The object of my presentinvention is to provide more eflicient means for extinguishing fires.

The main features of my invention comprise improved means for governing the admission of the (sulfuric) acid to the region of chemical reaction,the governing of the admission of the (bicarbonate of soda) solution to the same -region,-and the uniformly-regulated generation of the (oarbonic-aoid) gas.

The invention comprises also improved means for discharging the contents when desired, and the various features of construction and arrangement hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

The main object underlyin my present invention is to deliver upon t e conflagration a stream consisting not merely of water or other liquid, but of the liquid containing a much larger proportion than heretofore of the (carbonic-acld) gas,-the gas being itself the most eflicient agent in extinguishing fire. This is accomplished by means of the regulated or controlled admission of the acid, and also of the regulated and controlled admission of the soda-solution, to

the decomposing-re ion, so that a fresh sup- Y ply of the soda-so ution (from which the carbonic-acid gas has not been previously released by the action of the acid) shall be continuously supplied uniformly and in proper proportions with the fresh supply of acid that is being continuously fed to the soda-solution in the protected decomposing region,which region is surrounded with a protecting shield to prevent interference with the chemical action by agita tion of the liquid in the outer or, main tank,and, at the same time furnish a protected channel for the upward movement of the current. It should be said in exdueed in the same proportion.

planation that the stream of liquid, from these carbonic acid gas extinguishers, is the vehicle for conveying the gas to the fire, and is the only means by which the gas can be" carried through the air to make it effective at distant points. It is evident, therefore, that to increase the extinguishing power of a given amount of chemicals, everything depends on charging the stream evenly with all the gas that it can carry to the fire, from the first to the last of the throw, so as to utilize this carrying power to itsfullest extent. If the stream is only half charged for a part of the throw, the extinguishing power during that time is re- If the amount of gas generated during any period he too great, so as to overchargethe liquid, the excess of gas will be lost in transitand wasted, never reaching the fire.

The features herein described have for their main object the more perfect control of the chemical action which takes place, in such a way as to realize the maximum extinguishing power which is possible frmn the chemicals, thus securing a more scientitically regulated handling of the chemica s.

In further explanation of the process, it should be stated that the aflinity existing between the water and the gas, by which the Water is enabled to absorb large volumes of the gas in a highly condensed state, is very much increased by cold temperature and high pressure; and one object of this invention is to cause the larger part of this absorption of the gas by the water at points in the tank where the water is coolest. In the decomposing region referred to, the violent chemical re-action which takes place between the soda and acid causes a rise of temperature of from thirty to fifty degrees;

- so that by taking advantage of these natural laws by a properly constructed .deviee, the heated water can be made to rise to the top of thetank while the cool liquid naturally takes its place at the bottom, instead of be ing driven hither and thither throughout the entire contents of the tank, as has heretofore been the case where the chemicals are mixed indiscriminately by the violent agitation that always takes place where no protection is given at the points where chemical reaction is taking place.

As will be understood by the foregoing, 11o

the coolest portion of the soda-solution must necessarily be at the bottom, 2'. 6., near the region of the exit; While the warmer portions of the liquid will be at the top, 2'. 6., farthest removed from the exit.

I have invented an apparatus for carrying out this method of governing and controlling there-action, and creating the circulation referred to. My process and apparatus will be best understood by reference to the annexed drawings, in which I Figure 1 is a vertical section through a preferred embodiment of my apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a detail, inverted, to show the position, of the same when the device is in use; Fig. 3 is'a side view: of the cage and shield that surround the acid-bottle and the entire decomposing region, part of the shield being removed; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the line 4 1 of Fig. 3, looking upward; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse horizontal section, on a smaller scale, through the top of th apparatus, with the interior parts remove 1 represents the main receptacle or canister, having the shoulder with the exteriorlythreaded flange or neck 2.

3-3 represent two converging wedgeshaped outlet-conduits, which begin at diametrically-opposite positions near the 'top of the canister (z'. e.,the e-xit),and converge to the outlet-nipple 4 (see Figs. 1 and 5). The nipple 4 is shown as a down-turned el bow, upon which is secured the usual rubber-tubing 5, at the end of which is-the discharge-nozzle (not shown). The closure of the canister comprises the head 6, having the hand-wheel 7 for operation, and. the down-turned flange 8 that is interiorly screw-threaded toengage the thread on the neck 2; and from the bottom of the head 6 depends centrally the screw-threaded stem 11. The acid-bottle, the decomposing-cup, the cage, and the shield, are all carried from this depending stem.

' 17 i represents a head, having the interiorly-threaded upper member to engage this stem 11, and having the depending flange 18, which (when the apparatus is inverted, as in Fig. 2) constitutes the decomposing-cup. Also depending from the head 17 are the (three) guide-arms 19,,having the inclined guidesurfaces that terminate in the horizontally-alined shoulders 20, which lat ter are located in a plane slightly below the bottom of the, cup 18 (or, when inverted, as in Fig. 2, slightly above the level of the cup). A cylinder 21, is disposed concentrically around the head 17, being secured thereto by (three) radial webs 22 (see Fig. 4). 23 is a cylinder ofwire-nettin'g whose upper, edge is secured to a sleeve 24, and whose lower edge is secured to a ring 25. A concentric cup 26 is carried within this lower ring 25, as by radial-webs 27; while (three) resilient shouldered holding-arms 28 extend from the sleeve 24 t9 the cup 26. The sleeve 24 is adapted to telescope over the rin 21, where it is secured in place by the spring-catches 29.

30 represents the acid-bottle, and 31 the ball or closure therefor; parts 2l232t25 constitute the shield; and parts 26-28 (and 19) the bottle-cage.

To insert the bottle in place (aftersufficient acid has been put into it, and after placing the ball 31 upon the mouth thereof), the shield is disengaged from the ring 21, and the bottle placed within the cage and seated in cup 26, there being preferably a weight 34 at the bottom of the bottle; after which the shield (and cage) will be returned toposition and properly secured,guidearms 19 properly positioning the mouth of the bottle. The function of the weight 32 is that when the apparatus is inverted, and much of the acid has passed out, the buoy ancy of the partly-emptied bottle will not cause it to float upward, away from the shoulders 20.

Heretofore, in devices of this character, when the extinguisher is inverted for use, the acid-bottle is supported upon its shoulders, as at 32 in Fig. 2. But, in the commercial manufacture of bottles in large quantities, there is liable to be a considerable variation in the distance between the shoulder and the lip 33; and this means that there will be a considerable variance in the width of the annular space between the lip and the ball 31 (or other regulatingdevice). But, by supporting the bottle from its lip 3 3, upon the seats 20, I insure a uniform adjustment, and thereby a predetermined bentrol of the outflow of the acid.

The overhanging flange of cup 18 tends to prevent any of the soda-solution from splashing into the acid-bottle, and the ball 31 particularly insures that none of the solution shall reach the interior of the bottle. So soon as the apparatus is inverted, however, the ball 31 falls awaydpreferably into the concave seat indicated in the head 17), and the bottle itself drops a slight distance until its lip 33- rests upon tlfe seats 20. The 1 5 annular opening thus provided furnishes a regulated feed of the acid-contents, and the re-action with the sodasolution'takes place within the cup 18. This re-action generates considerable temperature and pressure. The heated liquid tends to rise, within the annular space or channel defined between the bottle-cage and the surrounding shield, and passes out at the top thereof,.while the gas (under increasing pressure) passes out through the interstices and openings therein, and travels along the lines of least resistance (that is, toward the outlets) ,-meanwhile fresh portions of the s da-solution travel up through the bottom of the chane nel formed by the shield and into the decomposing-cup,thus creatmg a fairly uniform circulation; and the gas, during its passage to the outlets, encounters fresh portions of comparatively cool liquid which (by reason of its greater coolness) will absorb a larger quantity of the gas. The pressure generated forces this gas-saturated liquid out through the converging walls of the outlets 3 further compressing the column of charged liquid, and causes or permits further absorption of the gas. In consequence, the stream emerging from the nozzle carries a much larger proportion of gas and delivers a greater portion of its gas-contents upon the flames.

The wedge-shaped conduits 3 perform a most important function in this process. It will be noticed 'that instead of being of uniform width and dimensions, as in the case of a pipe that is sometimes placed around the top of such tanks simply to prevent the liquid from slopping out when carried on moving vehicles, tlleseconduits 3 are made with steadily contractingwalls from the intake to the point of exit, in order to secure a steadily increasing pressure and hence a more perfect absorption of the gas by the water at the point where it leaves the ex tinguisher. At this point it should be said in further explanation that three things are desirable in order to secure the best results in charging the liquid with the carbonicacid gas First: Thorough mixing of the gas with the liquid. This is enhanced when the gas, in minute globular form, is pressed through the screened opening at the intake of the conduit, under high pressure.

Second: That the temperature of the liquid be as cool as possible. This is secured by placing the intake of the conduits at the region where the liquid is coolest, z'. 0., near that end'of the tank which is the bottom when the apparatus is inverted.

Third: High pressure. This is secured by passing the stream through the contracting walls of the conduits so that the water and the gas combinedcan be forced inward through these steadily contracting walls under high pressure where all the conditions are most favorable for complete absorption of the gas by the water.

I haye thus described my invention with some particularity of detail, 'but only for the sake of clearness; since my. invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement of parts set forth. Parts of the invention may be used to the exclusion of other parts, and modifications of the parts may be resorted to, without in any case doparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I

' claim ing said mixing-cup to shut off a protected space open'at top and bottom.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR C. ROWE.

Witnesses O. A. L. MAssm,

. RALPH L. soon. 

